THE FUSION QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 9

THE FUSION QUESTION

NATIONALIST POLICY

EXPOUNDED BY LIBERAL

LEADER

ANOTHER SIDE OF THE FUSION

QUESTION.

(BT TELEGRAPH, —CRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHuRCH, 26th October. Mr. G. W. Forbes, Leader of the Nationalist Party," addressed a large audience to-night in the Riccarton Town Hall. Messrs. A. E. L. Hunt and D. F. Dennehy, ■ Nationalist candidates for Riccarton and Christchurch East respectively, were also on the platform.

Mr. Forbes said that the Liberals had been criticised for changing their nai»e to Nationalists. He had been a Liberal all his life,\and had been one of the settlers on the Cheviot Estate as a result of the successful fight by the old Liberals. Referring to the fusion negotiations, Mr. Forbes said there was a feeling after the death of Mr. Massey that the Reform and Liberal Parties should examine their differences and get together to form a Government. Reform was returned with 58 members in 1922, and was apologising all the time i for steering a wobbly course. It was I really a weak Government. A conference was held attended by four Liberals and four Reformers, but the former laid it down as essential that there must |be an entirely new party. .Reform could not agree to this. Mr. Coates said that he was committed to the policy bequeathed to him by Mr. Massey. To Mr. Coates the difficulties were greater than the opportunities. He resented the statement by Mi. Coates that the Liberals were disgruntled over the distribution' of portfolios, and had run away. The Liberals had agreed unanimously that Mr. Coates would have a free hand in the selection of his colleagues. He was sure that Mr. Massey.'would never have shown the spirit exemplified by Mr. Coate3 at Palmerston. At a subsequent meeting of the Liberal Party it was agreed to adopt the name of the National Pai-ty. They had not given up any principles. They hoped to give the country a strong enough Government to run the country as it should be run. Throughout the world there was a challenge to constitutional government. New Zealand was .fortunate in this respect. In times of adversity a Government representative of the great bulk of the people was more necessary than ever. If a time did come when the country would pass through a most difficult- period, a Na-1 tionalist Government would be more necessary than ever. Mr. Forbes contrasted the tactics of Reform in going ahead with its election organisation with' those of the Liberals, who had stayed their hand because the fusion ' negotiations wero in progress When tho prospect of fusion was apparent money flowed into the Reform Party for the purpose of defeating it No doubt the wealthy land-owning clasp behind the Government did not object to this, but he did object to a Government representing only' this class. The Nationalists represented all classes. Mr. Coates was saying that people could look forward to the future witb confidence, but it must not be forgotten that the Public Debt had increased from £95,000,000 in 1914 to £234,000,----000 to-day. Interest had increased in the same period from £3,000,000 to £9.----000,000 annually. The position could be faced with equanimity if the price? of produce remained high, but one had to be an optimist to believe this. When il Opposition the Reformers had criticised Sir Joseph' Ward and called him a reckless .spendthrift for borrowing £5,000,000, but they had later E ot the £5,000,000 habit and had increased the ■ national borrowing to £8,000,000 in one year. When a country went on increasing its borrowing the people from whom- they were borrowing began to say, "What sort of people are you? Let's have 'a look at you." Mr. Coates had increased the Public' Works expenditure far above the £2,000,000 annually, which was formerly recognised as a safe figure. The next Minister of Public Works would not get a reputation for getting things done because he would nave no money with which to do theiri. The Public Works Minister in New| Zealand was an uncrowned king. The liberty given to him amounted in the case of Mr. Coates to license. Not one member iv fifty was qualified to state whether the large Public Works votes were justified. In Australia public works were controlled by a committee. If the same course were adopted in New Zealand • Parliament would have more power.

Mr. Forbos proceeded to condemn the Main Highways Act. He said that tho main roads had never been worse than to-day. Mr. Coates had treated it as a party question when the issue of giving the Highways Board power to make straight-out grants to local bodies was before Parliament.

Dealing, with the appeal for Coates men, Mr. Forbes said that there were no Eorbes men. He did not believe in men being tied hand and foot. Members of the Reform Party had supported Mr. Atmore when he spoke in the House in favour of fusion, but Mr. Coates had treated the matter as one of no-confidence, and all "the Reformers obediently followed him. <

The Government had written £3,----000,000 off the value .of ex-soldiers' land. It was extraordinary in face of this that the Hon. A. D. M'Leod was claiming that the scheme had been and was proving a success. He considered it one of the greatest blunders in land settlement in any country. So long as there were large landowners in the Government it voulcl not make a success of any land settlement scheme. Auckland and Dmiedin Reform newspapers had condemned the Government methods of settling soldiers. In regard to a' statement that tho Liberals through their association with the National Government in the war period were partly responsible for some land purchases, he said that members of his parly had no voice, in the matter. The compulsory clauses of the Land for Settlement Act must bo put into effect in cases of largo blocks of land. Mr. Forbes | condemned tho. Government's inaction in this regard, nnd contrasted the Hon. A. D. M'Leod's attitude, towards closer settlement in 1910 and that jf to-dq,y.

In conclusion, Mr. Forhes said iha-t ths Nationalist manifesto laid down a

policy of reasonable progress. The Government \yaa getting decrepit. It had lost half its team by Mr. Massey's death, and pufc up a new jockey—Mr. Coates. Reform had no faith in the horse, and was asking the jockey to lift him over the fences. The Liberals were under no domination,. and had no money for large newspaper advertisements. New Zealand at heart was Liberal. (Sustained applause.) The speaker was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence in the National Party on a show of hands. There were a number of dissentients.